Big 12 suspends Oklahoma State guard Marcus Smart three games

Feb. 9, 2014
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Oklahoma State guard Marcus Smart tries to get around Texas Tech's Robert Tuner in their game Saturday night. Smart had an altercation with a fan late in the game. / Michael C. Johnson, USA TODAY Sports

by Eric Prisbell, USA TODAY Sports

by Eric Prisbell, USA TODAY Sports

Oklahoma State sophomore Marcus Smart has been suspended for three games for shoving a Texas Tech fan in the final minute of the Cowboys' loss in Lubbock on Saturday night.

"Mr. Smart's actions were a clear violation of the Big 12 Conference's Sportsmanship and Ethical Conduct Policy," Commissioner Bob Bowlsby said in a statement Sunday. "Such behavior has no place in athletics, and will not be tolerated. I appreciate the efforts of Oklahoma State University athletics director Mike Holder in addressing this matter, and believe this is an appropriate response to an inappropriate action."

Big 12 spokesman Rob Carolla said the league reviewed the incident in accordance with the conference's sportsmanship policy.

Smart, who apologized for his actions in a news conference Sunday, will begin serving the suspension Tuesday when the Cowboys travel to face Texas in Austin. The Big 12 said Smart will be suspended from all team travel and gameday activities through the Cowboys' Feb. 17 game against Baylor. He will be allowed to practice with the team.

"Some things are more important than winning and losing," said Mike Holder, Oklahoma State's athletic director. "Your respect you have, your self image, all that that takes a lifetime to build can be gone in a blink of an eye. Playing competitive athletics is a privilege. It's not a right, it's a privilege. And that privilege can be taken away from you."

The next game Smart will be eligible to play will be Feb. 22 at home, Oklahoma State's second regular-season meeting with Texas Tech.

Smart apologized to the fan Jeff Orr, his Oklahoma State teammates, his coaches, his family and the university.

"This is not how I was raised," Smart said. "I let my emotions get the best of me, just can't let that happen again. It's something I have to learn from ... the consequences coming with it, I'm taking full responsibility. No fingers are pointed. This is all upon me."

"I feel like I let my teammates down. These guys mean a lot to me. Not to be able to be out there with them, it hits me in my heart. I have a lot of people that look up me, a lot of little kids. I truly apologize. This is not me."

Meanwhile, Orr apologized to Smart, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech coach Tubby Smith and the university for calling Smart a "piece of crap." Orr called his actions "inappropriate" and voluntarily agreed not to attend any more Texas Tech men's basketball games for the remainder of the season.

Texas Tech said video evidence from underneath the basket confirmed Orr's phrase directed toward Smart. But it cited the video evidence and witnesses in saying that no racist comment was uttered by Orr.

"I want to make it known that I did not use a racial slur of any kind," Orr added. "Additionally, I would like to offer my apologies to Texas Tech fans that have been embarrassed by the attention this incident has created."

After committing a foul in the final seconds of the game, Smart's momentum took him into the crowd behind the basket. After being helped to his feet, Smart turned to face a man wearing a black shirt who appeared to say something to Smart.

Smart then gave Orr a two-handed shove that knocked Orr back a step but did not knock him down. Smart was assessed a technical foul but was not ejected. He remained on the bench until the end of the game, when fans stormed the court following the 65-61 Texas Tech victory.

Video of the incident immediately went viral on Twitter, prompting strong and varied reaction from around the college basketball world and beyond. Long lauded for his poise and high character, Smart, 19, this season has become one of the sport's most polarizing figures.

"He made a mistake. Let's not crucify him for it," Holder said of the Texas Tech incident. "What happened last night will not define Marcus. It will not define us."

Smart's mother Camellia and his older brother Michael could not be reached for comment.

Oklahoma State coach Travis Ford, whose voice cracked with emotion as he answered questions for some 20 minutes, called it a "serious mistake" but a learning experience for a 19-year-old.

"I know Marcus Smart. I know his family. I know what he stands for, and I know he made a mistake. But that doesn't keep me from loving Marcus Smart, supporting him, loving him. Part of our job is to help him learn from this so it doesn't happen again."

In the spring, Smart made a decision that surprised many by choosing to return to school for his sophomore season even though he was projected to be an NBA lottery pick. A large part of that decision, he said, was based on his belief that he let his teammates down in fifth-seeded Oklahoma State's first-round NCAA tournament loss to 12th-seeded Oregon in March.

He told USA TODAY Sports in October that the loss to Oregon was one of the few games in his life when he felt he was not mentally into the game. He wanted to avenge that loss, as much for his teammates as for himself.

Smart entered this season as the nation's only unanimous Associated Press first-team All-American. He said he was motivated this season by the hype that Kansas freshman Andrew Wiggins received before Wiggins had even played a college game.

Smart's season reached a pinnacle Nov. 19, when he scored a career-high 39 points against Memphis, a performance that impressed Kevin Durant, who was in attendance. But Oklahoma State's season changed course once forward Michael Cobbins suffered a season-ending injury in late December. Then freshman guard Stevie Clark was dismissed from the program Feb. 3.

The Cowboys (16-7) have lost four consecutive games and five of six, including Saturday's loss to Texas Tech. A team that entered the season with Final Four hopes is now reeling, with NCAA tournament hopes in jeopardy.

Smart, a 6-foot-4 guard from Flower Mound, Texas, is averaging 17.3 points and 4.4 assists per game, both improvements from his freshman season. His shooting percentage (41.9%) is also up from last season.

As a freshman, Smart was hailed as a precocious leader, possessing maturity well beyond his age. Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim said he was the most valuable player in college basketball. ESPN analyst Fran Fraschilla said Smart, as a freshman, possessed the countenance of a 10-year NBA veteran.

Smart was one of two non-NBA players â?? Creighton's Doug McDermott the other â?? to accept invitations to the USA Men's National Team mini-camp in Las Vegas last July.

"Wherever he goes (in the NBA), he will go down as one of the all-time great players and people to ever play in that organization," Ford told USA TODAY Sports in October. "Guarantee it, write it down. They are going to say he's the greatest guy to ever come to this organization. I get to be around him for two years, and I feel very lucky. Some coach will get to be around him for seven, eight, nine, and they are going to be really fortunate."

But this season, as his team's struggles have mounted, Smart has shown outbursts of frustration, including kicking a chair in an 81-75 victory against West Virginia on Jan. 25, Oklahoma State's last victory. And he has been widely criticized by fans on social media for appearing to flop in games to draw fouls.

Ford said Sunday of the Texas Tech incident, "I know Marcus Smart's heart. I know how he's hurting. I know how regretful he is right now. Those are the things that make me love Marcus Smart. Marcus made a big mistake last night. He knows that."

The following is Texas Tech's official statement on the matter:

In conjunction with a review of the actions of Oklahoma State guard Marcus Smart by the Big 12 Conference, Texas Tech has completed its own thorough investigation regarding the incident at last night's basketball game involving Red Raider fan Jeff Orr. Texas Tech interviewed Mr. Orr along with numerous fans, photographers and arena personnel that were seated in the area surrounding him. Mr. Orr vehemently denied the accusation that he used a racial slur and no one in the vicinity of Mr. Orr heard such a slur.

Mr. Orr has admitted to directing an inappropriate phrase toward Marcus Smart. Texas Tech has been able to verify that statement independently through video provided by Texas Tech Sports Broadcasting. At no point on the film can a racial slur be heard.

Texas Tech is committed to sportsmanship and expects fans to abide by the rules set forth by the Big 12 Conference and the university. Comments such as those used by Mr. Orr are unacceptable and not condoned by Texas Tech University.

As a result of this incident, Mr. Orr has voluntarily agreed to not attend a Texas Tech home or away basketball game for the remainder of the season.